1 Bassekabaka 18
1 Awo nga wayiseewo ebbanga lya myaka essatu kasookedde enkuba ebula, ekigambo kya Mukama ne kijjira Eriya nti, “Genda weerage eri Akabu, omutegeeze nti nditonnyesa enkuba ku nsi.”
After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go and show yourself to Ahab, so that I may grant rain upon the face of the earth.”
2 Awo Eriya n’agenda okweyanjula eri Akabu.
Therefore, Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. For there was a severe famine in Samaria.
3 Mu biro ebyo enjala ng’ennyinnyitidde nnyo mu Samaliya, Akabu n’ayita Obadiya omukulu w’olubiri eyali assaamu ennyo Mukama ekitiibwa.
And Ahab called Obadiah, the manager of his household. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
4 Olwali olwo nga Yezeberi atandika okutta bannabbi bonna aba Mukama, Obadiya n’addira bannabbi kikumi n’abakweka mu mpuku bbiri buli emu ng’erimu amakumi ataano ataano, n’abaweeranga omwo emmere n’amazzi.
For when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord, he took one hundred prophets, and concealed them, fifty and fifty, in caves. And he fed them with bread and water.
5 Akabu n’amugamba nti, “Tuuka buli wantu awali enzizi ez’amazzi n’awali obugga bwonna, oboolyawo tunaafuna omuddo ne tuwonya embalaasi zaffe n’ennyumbu okufa, tuleme okufiirwa ensolo zonna.”
Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all the valleys, for perhaps we will be able to find plants, and save the horses and mules, so that the beasts of burden may not perish entirely.”
6 Ne beeyawulamu bombi okubuna ensi, Akabu n’akwata ekkubo lye ne Obadiya n’akwata erirye.
And they divided the regions among themselves, so that they might travel through them. Ahab went one way alone, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Awo Obadiya bwe yali ng’ali ku lugendo lwe, Eriya n’amusisinkana. Obadiya bwe yamutegeera n’avuunama wansi n’agamba nti, “Ddala ggwe wuuyo, mukama wange Eriya?”
And while Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him. And when he had recognized him, he fell on his face, and he said, “Are you not my lord Elijah?”
8 N’addamu nti, “Ye nze. Genda ogambe mukama wo nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’”
And he responded to him: “I am. Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here.”
9 Obadiya n’amugamba nti, “Kiki kye nkusobezza, okutuma omuddu wo eri Akabu ajja okunzita?
And he said: “How have I sinned that you would deliver me, your servant, into the hand of Ahab, so that he would put me to death?
10 Mukama Katonda wo nga bw’ali omulamu, tewali ggwanga oba bwakabaka mukama wange gy’atatumye mubaka kukunoonya. Era buli ggwanga, oba bwakabaka obwagambanga nti toliiyo, yabalayizanga okukakasa nti tobangayo.
As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent, seeking you. And when all responded, ‘He is not here,’ he swore each kingdom and nation to an oath, because you were not found at all.
11 Kaakano oŋŋamba ŋŋende ewa mukama wange njogere nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’
And now, you say to me, ‘Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here.’
12 Simanyi Mwoyo wa Mukama gy’anaakutwala nga kyenzije nveewo. Bwe nnaagenda ne ntegeeza Akabu n’atakusangawo, ajja kunzita, ate nga nze omuddu wo okuva mu buto bwange, nsinza Mukama.
And when I will have departed from you, the Spirit of the Lord will transport you to a place that I do not know. And entering, I will report to Ahab. And he, not finding you, will put me to death. Yet your servant has feared the Lord from his infancy.
13 Mukama wange totegeezebwanga, kye nakola nga Yezeberi atta bannabbi ba Mukama? Nakweka kikumi ku bannabbi ba Mukama mu mpuku bbiri, ataano ataano mu buli mpuku, era ne mbawa emigaati okulya n’amazzi okunywa.
Has it not been revealed to you, my lord, what I did when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord: how I hid one hundred men from the prophets of the Lord, fifty and fifty, in caves, and how I fed them with bread and water?
14 Kaakano, oŋŋamba ŋŋende ewa mukama wange mugambe nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’ Ajja kunzita!”
And now you say: ‘Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here,’ so that he may kill me!”
15 Eriya n’amugamba, “Nga Mukama ow’Eggye bw’ali omulamu, gwe mpeereza, siireme kweraga eri Akabu leero.”
And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whose face I stand, this day I will appear to him.”
16 Awo Obadiya n’agenda okusisinkana Akabu, n’amutegeeza; Akabu n’ajja okusisinkana Eriya.
Therefore, Obadiah went away to meet Ahab, and he reported to him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Akabu bwe yalaba Eriya, n’amubuuza nti, “Ggwe wuuyo, gwe ateganya Isirayiri?”
And when he had seen him, he said, “Are you the one who is disturbing Israel?”
18 Eriya n’addamu nti, “Sinnateganya Isirayiri, naye ggwe n’ennyumba ya kitaawo, muvudde ku biragiro bya Mukama ne mugoberera ba Baali.
And he said: “I have not troubled Israel. But it is you, and the house of your father, who have abandoned the commandments of the Lord, and have followed the Baals.
19 Kaakano kuŋŋaanya abantu bonna okuva mu Isirayiri yonna bajje ku lusozi Kalumeeri era oleete ne bannabbi ba Baali ebikumi ebina mu ataano wamu ne bannabbi ba Baaseri ebikumi ebina, abaliira ku mmeeza ya Yezeberi.”
Yet truly now, send and gather to me all of Israel, on Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the sacred groves, who eat from the table of Jezebel.”
20 Awo Akabu n’atumira abantu ba Isirayiri bonna, era n’akuŋŋaanya ne bannabbi bonna ku lusozi Kalumeeri.
Ahab sent to all the sons of Israel, and he gathered together the prophets on mount Carmel.
21 Awo Eriya n’ayimirira mu maaso g’abantu n’ayogera nti, “Mulituusa wa okutta aganaaga? Obanga Mukama ye Katonda mumugoberere, naye obanga Baali ye Katonda mugoberere oyo.” Naye abantu ne batamuddamu kigambo na kimu.
Then Elijah, drawing near to all the people, said: “How long will you waver between two sides? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal is, then follow him.” And the people did not respond a word to him.
22 Eriya n’abagamba nti, “Nze nsigaddewo nzekka ku bannabbi ba Mukama, naye Baali alina bannabbi ebikumi bina mu ataano.
And Elijah said again to the people: “I alone remain as a prophet of the Lord. But the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Kale mutuwe ente ennume bbiri, bo beerobozeeko emu, bagitemeeteme, bagiteeke ku nku, naye tebagikumamu. Nange naalongoosa eyookubiri, ne ngiteeka ku nku naye sijja kuzikumamu muliro.
Let two oxen be given to us. And let them choose one ox for themselves, and, cutting it into pieces, let them set it on the wood. But they may not place fire under it. And I will prepare the other ox, and set it on the wood. But I will not place fire under it.
24 Kale oluvannyuma mukoowoole erinnya lya katonda wammwe, nange nnaakowoola erinnya lya Mukama; anaddamu n’omuliro nga ye Katonda.” Abantu bonna ne baddamu nti, “Ky’oyogedde kirungi.”
Call upon the names of your gods. And I will call on the name of my Lord. And the God who will have heeded with fire, let him be God.” And in response, all the people said, “Excellent proposition.”
25 Eriya n’agamba bannabbi ba Baali nti, “Mmwe musooke okweroboza ente emu ennume nga bwe muli abangi, mugiteeketeeke. Mukoowoole erinnya lya katonda wammwe, naye temukoleeza muliro.”
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: “Choose for yourselves one ox, and prepare it first. For you are many. And call on the names of your gods, but do not place fire under it.”
26 Ne batwala ente ebaweereddwa ne bagiteekateeka. Oluvannyuma ne bakoowoola erinnya lya Baali okuva ku makya okutuusa mu ttuntu. Ne baleekaanira waggulu nti, “Ayi Baali, otuwulire!” Naye ne wataba kuddibwamu, newaakubadde eddoboozi lyonna. Ne bazina nga beetooloola ekyoto kye baali bakoze.
And when they had taken an ox, which he had given to them, they prepared it. And they called on the name of Baal, from morning even until midday, saying, “O Baal, heed us.” And there was no voice, nor did anyone respond. And so they leaped upon the altar that they had made.
27 Mu ssaawa ez’omu ttuntu Eriya n’atandika okubaduulira, ng’ayogera nti, “Muleekaane nnyo! Katonda ddala! Osanga ali mu birowoozo bingi, oba aliko ebimutawaanya, oba ali ku lugendo. Ayinza okuba nga yeebase, nga yeetaaga kumuzuukusa.”
And when it was now midday, Elijah ridiculed them, saying: “Cry out with a louder voice. For he is a god, and perhaps he is talking, or at an inn, or on a journey, or certainly he may be asleep, and must be awakened.”
28 Ne baleekaana nnyo nga bwe beesala n’obwambe ne beefumita n’amafumu ng’empisa yaabwe bwe yali, okutuusa omusaayi lwe gwabakulukuta.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and they cut themselves, in accord with their ritual, with knives and lancets, until they were entirely covered in blood.
29 Obudde bwali buyise nnyo, naye ne beeyongera okulagula kwabwe okutuusa ekiseera eky’ekiweebwayo eky’akawungeezi. Ne wataba kuddibwamu, newaakubadde eddoboozi lyonna, wadde assaayo omwoyo.
Then, after midday had passed, and they were prophesying, the time had arrived when the sacrifice is usually offered. And there was no voice heard, neither did anyone heed or respond to the praying.
30 Awo Eriya n’alyoka agamba abantu bonna nti, “Musembere kumpi nange.” Bonna ne bamusemberera, n’addaabiriza ekyoto kya Mukama ekyali kisuuliddwa.
Elijah said to all the people, “Draw near to me.” And as the people were drawing near to him, he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
31 N’addira amayinja kkumi n’abiri, buli limu n’aliteeka ku linnaalyo ng’ebika bya Yakobo bwe byali, Mukama gwe yayogerako nti, “Erinnya lye linaabanga Isirayiri.”
And he took twelve stones, in accord with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 N’azimba ekyoto mu linnya lya Mukama n’amayinja ago, n’asima olusalosalo okwetooloola ekyoto, ng’alugyamu lita kkumi na ttaano ez’amazzi.
And he built from the stones an altar to the name of the Lord. And he made a trench for water, like two furrows of plowed land, all around the altar.
33 N’atindikira enku, n’atemaatema ente, n’agiteekako. N’alyoka abagamba nti, “Mujjuze ebibya bina amazzi, mugafuke ku kiweebwayo ne ku nku.”
And he arranged the wood, and he cut the ox into pieces, and he placed it on the wood.
34 N’abagamba baddemu bakole bwe batyo omulundi ogwokubiri, ne bakiddamu, ate era n’abagamba okuddamu omulundi ogwokusatu ne baddamu ogwokusatu nga bwe yalagira.
And he said, “Fill four containers with water, and pour it over the holocaust, and over the wood.” And again, he said, “Do this a second time.” And when they had done it a second time, he said, “Do it also a third time.” And they did so a third time.
35 Amazzi ne gakulukuta okwetooloola ekyoto, n’okujjula ne gajjula olusalosalo.
And the water was running down around the altar, and the pit of the trench was filled with water.
36 Mu kiseera eky’ekiweebwayo eky’akawungeezi, nnabbi Eriya n’asembera mu maaso n’asaba nti, “Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa Ibulayimu, owa Isaaka ne Isirayiri, olwa leero kimanyibwe nti ggwe Katonda mu Isirayiri, era nti nze muddu wo, era nkoze ebintu bino byonna olw’ekigambo kyo.
And when it was now time for the holocaust to be offered, the prophet Elijah, drawing near, said: “O Lord, God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, reveal this day that you are the God of Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have acted, in all these things, in accord with your precept.
37 Onziremu, Ayi Mukama, onziremu, abantu bano bamanye, Ayi Mukama nti ggwe Katonda, era nti ggwe okyusa emitima gyabwe okudda gy’oli.”
Heed me, O Lord, heed me, so that this people may learn that you are the Lord God, and that you have converted their heart again.”
38 Omuliro gwa Mukama ne gulyoka gugwa ne gwokya ekiweebwayo, n’enku, n’amayinja, n’ettaka, ne gumalirawo ddala n’amazzi mu lusalosalo.
Then the fire of the Lord fell down and devoured the holocaust, and the wood, and the stones, and even the dust, and it absorbed the water that was in the trench.
39 Awo abantu bonna bwe baakiraba, ne bavuunama ne bakaaba nnyo nga bagamba nti, “Mukama, ye Katonda! Mukama, ye Katonda!”
And when all the people had seen it, they fell upon their face, and they said: “The Lord himself is God! The Lord himself is God!”
40 Eriya n’alyoka abalagira nti, “Mukwate bannabbi ba Baali, waleme okuba n’omu abaddukako.” Ne babakwata, Eriya n’abaserengesa ku kagga Kisoni, n’abattira eyo.
And Elijah said to them, “Apprehend the prophets of Baal, and do not let even one of them escape.” And when they had apprehended them, Elijah led them down to the torrent Kishon, and he put them to death there.
41 Eriya n’agamba Akabu nti, “Genda olye, n’okunywa onywe; kubanga waliwo okubwatuka kw’enkuba ey’amaanyi.”
And Elijah said to Ahab “Ascend; eat and drink. For there is the sound of an abundance of rain.”
42 Awo Akabu n’agenda okulya n’okunywa, naye Eriya n’alinnya ku ntikko y’olusozi Kalumeeri, n’akutama, n’ateeka omutwe gwe wakati w’amaviivi ge.
Ahab ascended, so that he might eat and drink. But Elijah ascended to the top of Carmel, and bending down to the ground, he placed his face between his knees.
43 N’agamba omuweereza we nti, “Yambuka, olengere okwolekera ennyanja.” Omuweereza n’agenda n’alaba n’akomawo n’amugamba nti, “Teri kye ndabyewo.” Eriya n’amugamba addeyo emirundi musanvu.
And he said to his servant, “Ascend, and gaze out toward the sea.” And when he had ascended, and had contemplated, he said, “There is nothing.” And again, he said to him, “Return seven times.”
44 Ku mulundi ogw’omusanvu omuweereza n’akomawo n’agamba nti, “Laba, ekire ekitono ekyenkana ng’omukono gw’omuntu kyambuka okuva mu nnyanja.” Eriya n’amugamba nti, “Genda ogambe Akabu nti, ‘Teekateeka eggaali lyo, oserengete, enkuba nga tennakuziyiza.’”
And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: “Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’”
45 Mu kiseera kyekimu, eggulu ne libindabinda, kibuyaga ne yeeyongera, enkuba ey’amaanyi n’ejja, Akabu n’ayolekera e Yezuleeri.
And as he was turning himself this way and that, behold, the heavens were darkened, and there were clouds and wind, and a great rainstorm occurred. And so Ahab, going up, went away to Jezreel.
46 Amaanyi ga Mukama ne gakka ku Eriya ne yeesiba ekimyu, n’adduka ng’akulembedde Akabu okutuuka e Yezuleeri.
And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah. And cinching his waist, he ran before Ahab, until he arrived at Jezreel.
